Mechanical data corrections for triaxial compression testing at high pressures and high temperatures with a Paterson gas-medium mechanical testing apparatus.

Although restricted by a limited range of strain, the triaxial compression test is a mature and common technique for investigating the rheological properties of rock materials at high pressures and high temperatures, especially when establishing the constitutive equations for various flow laws. The Paterson gas-medium high-pressure and high-temperature mechanical testing apparatus (Paterson apparatus) is the best apparatus for triaxial compression testing due to its high stress resolution. However, to derive accurate mechanical information from the raw data recorded by the Paterson apparatus, some technical issues should be addressed, including the simultaneous distortion of the apparatus, the load force supported by the jacketing tube, and the change in the cross-sectional area of the specimen. In this paper, we introduce correction methods corresponding to these three technical issues for triaxial compression on a Paterson apparatus equipped with an internal load cell to significantly reduce experimental errors so that high-precision mechanical data for establishing the constitutive equations of flow laws, such as differential stress, strain, and strain rate, can be obtained. To facilitate corrections for the distortion of the apparatus and the load force supported by the jacketing tube, we determine the distortion of the Paterson apparatus as a function of axial load force by deforming tungsten steel specimens with a known Young's modulus and the high-temperature flow laws of two common jacketing materials, iron and copper, by triaxial compression experiments at confining pressures of 200-300 MPa. Previous flow laws of iron and copper established by Frost and Ashby (1982) using ambient mechanical data are carefully compared with the flow laws obtained in this study to evaluate their effectiveness for correcting jacket tube strength. Finally, the errors eliminated by each correction step are analyzed and discussed to better understand the necessity of mechanical data corrections.

[EB virus-positive T/NK lymphoproliferative diseases: an analysis of 156 patients].

Objective: To investigate the clinicopathological features of EBV-positive T/NK cell lymphoproliferative diseases (EBV(+) T/NK-LPD). Methods: The clinical characteristics of 156 cases of EBV(+) T/NK-LPD were collected from August 2002 to March 2015 at Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University. Immunohistochemical staining, EBER in situ hybridization and clonal analysis of TCR gene were performed. All patients were followed up. Results: There were 106 male and 50 female patients; patients' age ranged from 1 to 75 years (median 20 years). The course of the diseases before diagnosis ranged from 2 to 540 months (median 20 months). Fever was noted in 122 patients (78.2%), 108 patients had lymphadenopathy (69.2%), and 75 patients had hepatosplenomegaly (48.1%). Thirty-three cases were grade 1, 68 cases were grade 2, and 55 cases were grade 3. TCR gene arrangement analysis was performed in 45 cases, and 33 cases (73.3%) showed clonal rearrangement. The follow-up period ranged from 1-134 months, and 44 patients (28.2%) died. There was a trend of increased death rate associated with increasing grade (P>0.05). Conclusions: There are many types of EBV(+) T/NK-LPD, and they can be classified as systemic, relatively localized and localized. The prognosis should be based on a comprehensive analysis of pathology and clinical data. There is no significant correlation between morphological grade and mortality. An important goal of therapy is to prevent serious complications.

Association of HLA-DQB1*03:03 with pityriasis rosea in Chinese patients.

BACKGROUND: The association of human leucocyte antigen (HLA) with a variety of diseases has been described, especially with various autoimmune diseases. However, there are few studies on the association between HLA and pityriasis rosea (PR). AIM: To investigate the relevance of HLA II alleles with the development of PR. METHODS: Typing for HLA-DRB1, HLA-DQA1 and HLA-DQB1 typing was performed in 55 patients with PR and 90 healthy controls (HCs), using sequence-based typing (SBT) and PCR with sequence-specific primers (PCR-SSP), respectively. RESULTS: We found that the frequency of HLA-DQB1*03:03 was significantly higher in the PR compared with the HC group [P = 0.001; relative risk (RR) = 2.24; 95% CI 1.38-3.6], while suggestive evidence for a protective effect of HLA-DQB1*06:06 was observed in the study cohort (P < 0.02; RR = 0.40; 95% CI 0.17-0.90). CONCLUSIONS: The HLA-DQB1*03:03 allele may be a susceptible factor in patients with PR. In addition, the association of HLA-DQB1*03:03 with PR suggests participation of immunity in the pathogenesis of PR.

Association of UBASH3A gene polymorphism and atopic dermatitis in the Chinese Han population.

Genome-wide association studies have revealed a large number of genetic-risk loci for many autoimmune diseases. One clear finding emerging from the published genetic studies of autoimmunity is that different autoimmune diseases share susceptibility loci. Recent evidence has demonstrated that UBASH3A gene was associated with multiple autoimmune diseases. The aim of this study was to explore the association between UBASH3A single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and atopic dermatitis (AD) in a Chinese Han population. In total, three UBASH3A SNPs (rs11203203, rs3788013 and rs1893592) were genotyped using TaqMan genotyping assays in a Chinese Han population (1012 cases and 1362 controls). Among these SNPs, we selected the SNP rs1893592 with association values of P<5 × 10-2 for AD in the TaqMan genotyping assay data for further replication in the independent Chinese replication samples (1080 cases and 1367 controls) using a Sequenom MassARRAY system. We combined the association results in two stages using meta-analysis. We found that rs1893592 in UBASH3A showed association with AD (P=1.29 × 10-3, odds ratio=1.16). These results showed that UBASH3A gene SNP is associated with susceptibility to AD. Further fine mapping and functional studies will be required to identify true causal variant in the UBASH3A gene and its exact role in the pathogenesis of AD.

Multiple variants in 5q31.1 are associated with systemic lupus erythematosus susceptibility and subphenotypes in the Han Chinese population.

BACKGROUND: A previous study provided evidence for a genetic association between PPP2CA on 5q31.1 and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) across multi-ancestral cohorts, but failed to find significant evidence for an association in the Han Chinese population. OBJECTIVES: To explore the association between this locus and SLE using data from our previously published genome-wide association study (GWAS). METHODS: Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) rs7726414 and rs244689 (near TCF7 and PPP2CA in 5q31.1) were selected as candidate independent associations from a large-scale study in a Han Chinese population consisting of 1047 cases and 1205 controls. Subsequently, 3509 cases and 8246 controls were genotyped in two further replication studies. We then investigated the SNPs' associations with SLE subphenotypes and gene expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. RESULTS: Highly significant associations with SLE in the Han Chinese population were detected for SNPs rs7726414 and rs244689 by combining the genotype data from our previous GWAS and two independent replication cohorts. Further conditional analyses indicated that these two SNPs contribute to disease susceptibility independently. A significant association with SLE, age at diagnosis < 20 years, was found for rs7726414 (P = 0·001). The expression levels of TCF7 and PPP2CA messenger RNA in patients with SLE were significantly decreased compared with those in healthy controls. CONCLUSIONS: This study found evidence for multiple associations with SLE in 5q31.1 at genome-wide levels of significance for the first time in a Han Chinese population, in a combined genotype dataset. These findings suggest that variants in the 5q31.1 locus not only provide novel insights into the genetic architecture of SLE, but also contribute to the complex subphenotypes of SLE.

Long non-coding RNA LINC00628 suppresses the growth and metastasis and promotes cell apoptosis in breast cancer.

OBJECTIVE: Breast cancer is the most common malignant tumor in women. However, the detailed mechanisms of its tumorigenesis remain largely unknown. Evidence and data have shown that abnormality in expression of Long non-coding RNA (LncRNA) is closely related to tumorigenesis. The aim of this study is to identify the detailed mechanisms of LncRNA LINC00628 in breast cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The expression of LINC00628 in breast cancer tissues, adjacent non-cancerous tissues and cell lines were detected by qRT-PCR. Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test were applied to analyze the overall survival of patients with low and high expression level of LINC00628 respectively. The LCC2 and MCF-7 cells were transfected with LINC00628 and the proliferation, invasion and migration were examined. The cell cycle distribution and cell apoptosis rate in LCC2 and MCF-7 cells after transfection with LINC00628 were explored by flow cytometry. The relative expression level of Bcl-2, Bax and Caspase-3 protein in LCC2 and MCF-7 cells after transfection with LINC00628 was detected by Western blotting. RESULTS: The relative expression level of LINC00628 in breast cancer tissues and cell lines were significantly decreased and the low expression level of LINC00628 has a poorer prognosis and lower overall survival rate. The overexpression of LINC00628 suppressed breast cancer cells proliferation, invasion and migration. Further, with the overexpression of LINC00628, cell cycle was arrested in G0/G1 phase in breast cancer cells and cell apoptosis was promoted. The relative expression of Caspase-3 and Bax protein were significantly increased and the relative expression of Bcl-2 protein was significantly decreased after transfection with LINC00628. CONCLUSIONS: The expression of LINC00628 was decreased in breast cancer. The overexpression of LINC00628 suppressed the proliferation, invasion and migration of breast cancer cells and promoted cell apoptosis associated with the regulation of Bcl-2/Bax/Caspase-3 signal pathway.

Genetic differentiation of Octopus minor (Mollusca, Cephalopoda) off the northern coast of China as revealed by amplified fragment length polymorphisms.

Octopus minor (Sasaki, 1920) is an economically important cephalopod that is found in the northern coastal waters of China. In this study, we investigated genetic differentiation in fishery populations using amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLPs). A total of 150 individuals were collected from five locations: Dalian (DL), Yan-tai (YT), Qingdao (QD), Lianyungang (LY), and Zhoushan (ZS), and 243 reproducible bands were amplified using five AFLP primer combinations. The percentage of polymorphic bands ranged from 53.33 to 76.08%. Nei's genetic identity ranged from 0.9139 to 0.9713, and the genetic distance ranged from 0.0291 to 0.0900. A phylogenetic tree was constructed using the unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean, based on the genetic distance. The DL and YT populations originated from one clade, while the QD, LY, and ZS populations originated from another. The results indicate that the O. minor stock consisted of two genetic populations with an overall significantly analogous FST value (0.1088, P < 0.05). Most of the variance was within populations. These findings will be important for more sustainable octopus fisheries, so that this marine resource can be conserved for its long-term utilization.

Role of Sphk1 in the malignant transformation of breast epithelial cells and breast cancer progression.

BACKGROUND: The ojective of the following study is to investigate the role of sphingosine kinase 1 (Sphk1) in the malignant transformation of breast epithelial cells and breast cancer progression and its mechanism. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Immunohistochemistry was performed to detect Sphk1 and E-cadherin (E-cad) in resected breast samples. Sphk1 was transfected in normal human breast epithelial cell line (MCF-10A) by Lentivirus and silenced in breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) using small interfering ribonucleic acid. The effect of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and/or N, N-dimethylsphingosine (DMS) on the Sphk1 and E-cad expression, MCF-10A cell proliferation and invasion was investigated. Real time-polymerase chain reaction and western-blot was used to detect messenger ribonucleic acid and protein. Cell counting kit-8 and transwell were used to measure cell proliferation and invasion. RESULTS: Sphk1 was positive expression in 114 breast tumors (75.50%) but negative in fibroadenomas. The expression of E-cad and Sphk1 were negatively correlated and E-cad (-)/Sphk1 (+) carriers showed higher ratio of axillary lymph node metastasis than E-cad (+)/Sphk1 (-) carriers. Overexpression of Sphk1 in MCF-10A reduced E-cad expression and improved cell proliferation and invasion, but knockdown of Sphk1 in MCF-7 decreased cell proliferation and invasion. TNF-α increased Sphk1 expression, enhanced the ability of Sphk1 in decreasing E-cad expression, which could be blocked by DMS. TNF-α promoted MCF-10A cell proliferation and invasion. CONCLUSION: Sphk1 plays an important role in the malignant transformation of breast epithelial cells and modulates breast cancer metastasis through the regulation of E-cad expression. TNF-α can up-regulate Sphk1 expression and reduce E-cad expression through Sphk1, which can be blocked by DMS. TNF-α/Sphk1/E-cad pathway may be a newly discovered pathway and plays an important role in tumorigenesis and metastasis.

Isolation and characterization of 24 polymorphic microsatellite loci in Sepioteuthis lessoniana.

Owing to their codominant, multiallelic, and highly polymorphic nature, microsatellite markers have been used widely in population genetics and biological resource conservation studies. To investigate the genetic structure of Sepioteuthis lessoniana, we developed 24 microsatellite DNA markers and assessed the polymorphism of each locus in a wild S. lessoniana population. The number of alleles per locus ranged from 4 to 26, and the observed and expected heterozygosities varied from 0.188 to 1.000 and 0.392 to 0.959 with an average of 0.675 and 0.852, respectively. These microsatellite loci will be useful tools in future studies of population genetic structure in this species.

Control of postharvest decay on cherry tomatoes by marine yeast Rhodosporidium paludigenum and calcium chloride.

AIMS: In this study, the potential of calcium chloride (CaCl(2)) application to improve the efficacy of the marine antagonist Rhodosporidium paludigenum in controlling postharvest diseases of cherry tomatoes was assessed. METHODS AND RESULTS: CaCl(2) alone was found not to have any direct influence on the population growth of R. paludigenum in NYDB cultures or in cherry tomato wounds. However, the combined treatments with 1 x 10(8) cells ml(-1)R. paludigenum and CaCl(2) at the concentration from 0.5 to 2% showed high activities to reduce black rot caused by Alternaria alternata in cherry tomato wounds, significantly higher than those of R. paludigenum or CaCl(2) alone. Meanwhile, 0.5% CaCl(2) in combination with 1 x 10(8) cells ml(-1)R. paludigenum greatly inhibited the natural decay of cherry tomatoes in 21 days' storage at 25 degrees C. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of R. paludigenum and CaCl(2) enhances the inhibition of black rot and natural decay of postharvest cherry tomatoes. The results from this study provide a new way to improve the efficiency of R. paludigenum in maintaining the quality of postharvest fruits and vegetables. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The marine yeast R. paludigenum combined with CaCl(2) has greatly potential use as an alternative to chemical fungicides in inhibiting postharvest decay on cherry tomatoes.

Antifungal activity of thyme oil against Geotrichum citri-aurantii in vitro and in vivo.

AIMS: To investigate antifungal effect of thyme oil on Geotrichum citri-aurantii arthroconidia germination and germ tube elongation, to reveal effects of thyme oil on morphological structures on fungal hyphae and arthroconidia and to assess potential bio-control capacities of thyme oil against disease suppression in vivo conditions. METHODS AND RESULTS: Thyme oil controlled the growth of G. citri-aurantii effectively. Arthroconidia germination and germ tube elongation in potato dextrose broth was greatly inhibited by thyme oil. At 600 microl l(-1), it inhibited the germination of about 94% of the arthroconidia and the germ tube length was only 4.32 +/- 0.28 microm. Observations using light microscope, scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscope revealed ultrastructural modifications caused by thyme oil that included markedly shrivelled and crinkled hyphae and arthroconidia, plasma membrane disruption and mitochondrial disorganization. Thyme oil applied to 'Satsuma' mandarin oranges that had been artificially wounded and inoculated with G. citri-aurantii reduced sour rot from 78.1% among untreated control fruit to 14.1% after 5 days at 26 degrees C. Thyme oil applied to intact fruits reduced the decay from 76% among untreated control fruit to 35% after 30 days at 20 degrees C. Thyme oil treatment did not harm 'Satsuma' mandarin oranges when they were examined after treatment and storage at 20 degrees C for 30 days. CONCLUSIONS: Thyme oil may provide an alternative means of controlling postharvest sour rot on citrus fruit. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The use of such essential oil may constitute an important alternative to synthetic fungicides. They can be exploited in commercial production and applied under storage and greenhouse conditions.

Postharvest biocontrol of Alternaria alternata in Chinese winter jujube by Rhodosporidium paludigenum.

AIMS: This study was conducted to measure the efficacy of the marine antagonist Rhodosporidium paludigenum in the suppression of postharvest decay of Chinese winter jujube caused by Alternaria alternata and to explore the possible mode of action involved. METHODS AND RESULTS: The efficacy of controlling postharvest diseases by R. paludigenum was examined. Rapid yeast colonization of wounds was observed during the first 48 h at 25 degrees C. The yeast at 1 x 10(8) cells ml(-1) of washed cells suspension provided better control of A. alternata than any other treatment. The concentration of the antagonist had significant effects on biocontrol effectiveness: as the concentration of R. paludigenum was increased, the disease incidence decreased. Meanwhile, R. paludigenum significantly inhibited the natural development of decay and did not damage fruit quality parameters including lightness values, hue angle, firmness, soluble solids, ascorbic acid and titratable acidity in 21 days' storage at 25 degrees C. CONCLUSIONS: Rhodosporidium paludigenum was effective in controlling postharvest decay of Chinese winter jujube and did not impair fruit quality parameters. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Rhodosporidium paludigenum can be used as a nonchemical agent in postharvest biological control of Chinese winter jujube.

The improvement of amorpha-4,11-diene production by a yeast-conform variant.

AIMS: To investigate the effect of the yeast-conform variant of the Artemisia annua gene encoding for amorpha-4,11-diene synthase (ADS) on the production of amorpha-4,11-diene in a transformed yeast. METHODS AND RESULTS: The ADS gene was mutated to the yeast-conform variant ADSm. The ADSm synthesis was performed based on step-by-step extension of a short region of the gene through a series of polymerase chain reactions (PCR). The artificial ADSm gene contained codons preferred by the yeast translation machinery. The sequence was then integrated into a yeast expression vector pYeDP60. The fusion construct was active and the transformed yeast cells produced higher level of amorpha-4,11-diene compared with the plant gene-transformed yeast cells. CONCLUSIONS: Strains transformed with the yeast-conform allele (ADSm) were more efficient in terms of production of amorpha-4,11-diene than those transformed with the plant gene. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: We demonstrated that yeast-conform allele of foreign genes by serial PCR reactions can be a solution to low efficiency of heterologous gene expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells.

Ray-tracing calculations for uniaxial optical components with curved surfaces.

A method of ray-tracing calculations for uniaxial optical components with curved surfaces is presented. A set of simple ray-tracing formulas is derived. With the spatial ray-tracing method in geometrical optics, by using a computer we plot spot diagrams of extraordinary-ray images formed by some crystal systems.